Age: 79 years
GRS Rating: 5 of 5

Notable Cast:

Robert Montgomery John Wayne

Duration: 2 hr, 15 min
Infractions: None.

Comments: Slowly, the Philippines are falling to Imperial Japan. It's World War II in the Pacific Ocean. The American military stationed in this archipelago is confronted with a wide variety of emotions. But, is their sense of duty strong enough to stand against the superior Japanese force?

This movie follows the real events of the American withdrawal from the islands. I've been studying this overlooked and downplayed theater of the war. John Ford's film does a wonderful job presenting the incubation of the patrol torpedo (P.T.) boats in the Pacific.

These fast-attack, wooden boats were armed with four torpedoes and two double fifty-caliper machine guns. The concept was that they could swiftly approach and launch torpedoes at cruisers and destroyers and then retreat, letting the weapons do the job. This revolutionary idea was very important for the later American victory in the Philippines.

This film is excellent. It presents an excellent example of American heroism. Recommended!